Saturday, November 7

Wiseguys, Rabbis, and the FBI: How One Man Became the Biggest Loanshark in New York City, Went to Prison, and Escaped

By J.A. Schwartzman

 

6 p.m.

Location TBD

$25 per person, includes author presentation, dinner, and refreshments

$40 per person, includes book, author presentation, dinner, and refreshments

 

Step into the world of mobsters, money, and mystery for an unforgettable evening. Enjoy dinner and hear directly from author J.A. Schwartzman as she shares the remarkable true story of Mel Cooper, a New York loanshark whose operation became entangled with organized crime and ultimately led to a landmark prosecution by U.S. Attorney Rudolph Giuliani. Drawing on interviews, trial transcripts, and firsthand accounts, Schwartzman brings to life a cast of colorful characters, high-stakes courtroom drama, and the surprising question at the heart of the case: who was really backing the loans?

 

Come hungry for dinner and ready for a fascinating journey into New York’s underworld, where the lines between wiseguys, rabbis, and the law were anything but clear.

 

J.A. Schwartzman is a copywriter and author from New York City. Her work has appeared in publications including Mademoiselle Magazine, Barbara Probst Solomon’s The Reading Room, the New York Press, and others. Her writing and editing have included non-fiction books, articles for trade and commercial publications, and a screenplay.

 

RSVP by Monday, November 2: https://jftoledo.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/list/ticket